Abstract: A method and apparatus for the non-destructive identification of coated and uncoated metal parts employing infrared thermography. The apparatus comprises a means for directing infrared radiation onto the surface of a part; a means for scanning the part surface for reflected infrared radiation; a means for capturing the reflected radiation and converting it into a signal representative of variations in radiation reflected from the surface of the part; means for etching an identifying code into the surface of the part; and means for displaying the signal as a video image. The method comprises altering the surface reflective characteristics of a part to produce an identifying code, irradiating the part with infrared radiation of a specific wavelength and detecting differences in the amount and intensity of radiation reflected from the part.

Abstract: A reversed can end ejector system is provided for detecting and ejecting a can end in reverse orientation with respect to a moving stack of otherwise similarly aligned and nested can ends. This system comprises an optical detection apparatus including a light-emitting portion for emitting light in a direction toward the path of travel and a light-detecting portion located adjacent said path of travel. The optical detection apparatus is responsive to one of the presence or absence of light incidence upon its light-detecting portion for producing a control signal. An ejector is movable relative to the stack for contacting and ejecting a reversed can end therefrom and an actuator is coupled with the ejector and responsive to the control signal for driving the ejector in a direction for contacting and ejecting the reversed can end from the stack.

Abstract: Automatic material identification is achieved using infrared thermometry. A focused beam of high flux energy is passed through a dichroic beam-splitter to remove visible UV with the remaining infrared directed to the surface of the material to be identified. An infrared thermometer sensor is positioned to sense the magnitude of the energy received from the material surface with the magnitude of the energy being indicative of the type of material scattering such energy. Control apparatus are employed to provide control signals as a function of the type of material identified such that automatic process operations may be effected in accordance therewith.

Abstract: In its simplest sense, the present invnetion contemplates a method and apparatus for determining a characteristic or property of randomly oriented, irregularly shaped objects by obtaining an image profile of the object, selecting a plurality of edge points from the image profile and obtaining therefrom a parameter related to the characteristic or property of the object. Having determined the characteristic or property of the objects analyzed, they can be treated appropriately, for example, sorted and the like.

Abstract: A master clock oscillator produces a series of control pulses to drive a multiple frequency L.E.D. illuminator and an optically coaxial synchronous detection system in an AC based organic/inorganic, ripe/unripe sorter. Data is collected by subjecting free-falling articles to a repetitious sampling cycle and detecting the reflected pulses. Counters running at differential rates, store binary data relating to the size and ripe/unripe condition of the article. At the end of the sampling period, an accept/reject determination is made, based upon the binary data.

Abstract: A corn sorting and inspection system automatically inspects various characteristics of ears of corn positioned on an endless conveyor and moved past a series of consecutive grading and removal stations, ears of corn not having charcteristics in conformance with predetermined standards set at each station are removed from the conveyor system at the end of the particular station, thereby sorting those ears of corn which meet the predetermined standards from those which are considered flawed. The ears of corn are positioned lengthwise parallel to the direction of movement and in a single file on the endless conveyor and passed through each of the individual grading and removal sections, the ears of corn being automatically inspected for smut, short ears, unhushed ears, cob diameter and kernel damage. Each grading and removal station grades or inspects the individual ears as they pass under or through standard L.E.D.

Abstract: A device for inspecting the external appearance of solid medicine having a solid medicine supplying section, a first drum-shaped conveying section for conveying solid medicines supplied by the solid medicine supplying section, at equal intervals so that one surface of each piece of solid medicine is observed. A second drum-shaped conveying section receives the solid medicine from the first drum-shaped conveying section and conveys the solid medicine at equal intervals so that the opposite surface of each solid medicine is observed. First and second observing units are provided adjacent to said first and second drum-shaped conveying sections for observing both surfaces of each piece of solid medicine respectively. A third observing unit is employed for observing the thickness of each piece of solid medicine conveyed by the first and second drum-shaped conveying sections at least before the piece of solid medicine reaches the second observing unit.

Abstract: In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a television camera is oriented with respect to a conveyor belt such that the direction of the scanning lines of the television camera are perpendicular to the direction of motion of the conveyor belt. Material containing foreign bodies is introduced on the conveyor belt and passes under the television camera and a light source. The television camera detects the reflected and/or radiant light and produces a video signal in accordance therewith. The image component of the video signal for each of the scanning lines is divided into signal portions. Like signal portions of respective scanning lines are successively integrated in an integration circuit to provide a non-zero signal when a foreign body is detected by the television camera. The output of the integration circuit is applied to a threshold switch, which produces a logical one when the value of the output of the integration circuit is equal to or exceeds an adjustable reference value.

Abstract: An optical scanner for light detection and color ratiometric measuring for use in apparatus to sort small particles such as seed and beans which are projected or propelled through the scanner at relatively high speeds to be scanned on all sides by a narrow light plane and viewed by a plurality of photoelectric devices. Several lamps are used in conjunction with cylindrical lenses to produce a substantially uniform collimated light plane perpendicular to the path of the particles. The lamps and lenses are interspersed with the photoelectric devices such that light reflected from the portion of the particle being scanned is detected by the photoelectric devices which are responsive to selected wavelengths and which responses are separately fed to an external electronic circuit for processing according to spectral responses such that said responses can be measured individually or compared with each other to determine certain color characteristics of the particle being scanned.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for testing open ended containers wherein the open ends of the containers are clamped against regularly spaced apertures in a carrier wheel and are rotated along a locus leading across two spaced inspection stations. Lighting is provided principally along the container sidewall leading with respect to the direction of its locus of movement within the first inspection station environment and is provided principally along a sidewall considered lagging as the container passes the second inspection station. Defect responsive photosensing signals from the two stations are submitted to OR logic sequential memory to syncronize the operation of a discharge carrier. No vacuum retention of the containers within the transfer disc region is required.

Abstract: A device for detection and removal of foreign bodies from vegetables dispersed and transported on a conveyor belt consisting of a multichannel detection system based on reflection analysis of polarized infra-red light. The reflected light is amplified, filtered and applied to a delayed automatic gain control circuit (A.G.C.). The A.G.C. output is compared with a reference voltage window to control the ejection system.

Abstract: A method of eliminating hot spots in a mass of sponge iron particles made by gaseous reduction of iron ore. A layer of the particulate product is moved to a separating station, near which the layer is viewed by an infra-red detector that generates a control signal when insufficiently cooled particles register therewith. The control signal is used to shift the position of a particle guide member at the separating station to cause insufficiently cooled particles to be diverted from the main particle stream. Preferably the separation is carried out in two stages. Apparatus for carrying out the method is disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: Nahcolite-containing ore particles are separated from oil shale particles in a mixture of particles of nahcolite-bearing oil shale ore by irradiating the mixture of ore particles with electromagnetic energy in the infrared region of the spectrum and sorting the particles according to energy reflected at one or more selected wavelengths within that region to separate the nahcolite-containing ore particles from the oil shale particles.

Abstract: A produce grading system that detects the light reflectances from an object in four color bands. Two bands are in the visible range and two are in the invisible range. By means of comparing various color combinations the system looks for the presence of a desired color, an undesired color, and determines if the object is vegetable or nonvegetable matter.

Abstract: The device is conventionally associated to a cigarette packaging machine and comprises a hopper for successively distributing individual layers of adjacently disposed cigarettes into transferring means which successively transfer each layer into compartments intermittently moved in front of said transferring means. A plurality of layers are superimposed in each compartment to form a bundle to be fed to the wrapping means of the packaging machine. During the transferring, the layers are compelled to pass through a passage delimited by side guiding members and by an upper and a lower light-transparent guiding plate, said passage having a width substantially equal to the width of a layer and a height substantially equal to the diameter of a cigarette. The upper plate has a slot in the direction of the transverse dimension of the passage and this slot is subjected to the light rays generated by a light source transversely disposed relative to said passage and above said slot.

Abstract: A produce grading system that detects the light reflectance from an object in four color bands. Two bands are in the visible range and two are in the invisible range. By comparing various color combinations the system looks for the presence of a desired color, an undesired color, and determines if the object is vegetable or nonvegetable matter.

Abstract: A sorting machine for sorting ground nuts affected by a mould which produces aflatoxin comprises detectors for detecting infra-red (or red) and green light respectively reflected from a ground nut being viewed. The infra-red detector produces a first signal indicative of the amount of mould carried by the ground nut. The green detector produces a signal indicative of the extent to which the ground nut is mechanically damaged, and also produces a gating signal. A comparison signal is derived from these first and second signals and is passed by way of a gate and a level detector to an ejector. The gating signal controls the operation of the gate in dependence upon the extent to which the ground nut being viewed is mechanically damaged, so that the ejector is actuated by comparison signals of a predetermined level only when the extent to which the ground nut is mechanically damaged does not exceed a predetermined value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dividing meat components such as fat and lean meat wherein the combined fat and lean meat are passed through an extruder sized to form one or more chains of material wherein the fat and lean meat are divided along the length thereof, the character of material along each chain being sensed by a suitable sensor with the fat and lean meat being divided by a diverter functioning in delayed response to the sensor.

Abstract: A control apparatus for processing the electrical signals generated by an optical ratiometric color sorting scanner, said apparatus generating signals to cause the rejection of articles which differ in color and/or size from predetermined limits. In the scanner, two electrical signals are generated which are responsive to two different spectral regions or pass bands of the radiant energy reflected by the product being sorted. These signals are superimposed on a slowly varying signal responsive to the standing background light. The control circuitry processes the signals to delete the standing light signal and spurious noise signals and determines if the ratio between the signals is greater than or less than a predetermined value, or alternatively, determines when the ratio between the signals is not within a predetermined acceptable range and generates a delayed reject signal thereafter. Other circuits provide signals to a meter for displaying the present reject rate and particle feed rate.

Abstract: An article monitoring and reject apparatus is disclosed that is particularly well suited for monitoring or inspecting glass containers and automatically rejecting defective containers. The system includes a monitoring unit having a plurality of scan diodes and associated phototransistors with each diode being individually caused to emit a plurality of light pulses and the diodes being successively energized to scan that portion of the article to be monitored. The associated phototransistor produces a plurality of electrical pulses when a defect is sensed, as indicated by light reflected from the portion of the article then being monitored, and a defect signal is produced only if a predetermined plurality of pulses are generated from each of a plurality of diodes indicative of a defect. An inspection window is established by a separate light emitter and sensor at the monitoring area and the signal produced is processed in dual paths to reject device circuitry.

Abstract: An on-line detector for peach pits and peach pit fragments and the like remaining in peach halves following a pitting operation includes a sealed housing bordered on one side by an inclined view plate disposed between a feeding belt and a take-away belt. A peach half, pit cavity down, is passed by a viewing line above the view plate. Two different wavelengths of light are directed toward the viewing line and are reflected by a passing fruit section toward an array of light sensors. One of the wavelengths of light is controlled in on-off condition by a clock, being turned on during only a portion of each clock cycle. Output from each one in the array of light sensors is sampled during the portion of each clock cycle that the one wavelength is on, and differenced with the light sensor output from that sensor when the other wavelength only is on. Differencing occurs during each clock cycle and a difference output appears only in the presence of a pit or a pit fragment.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for high-speed automatic inspection and processing of large numbers of solid discrete particular objects such as multicolored capsule dose forms in regard to color and/or defect detection, in which virtually all unacceptable material is isolated and an accurate running and total count of acceptable material is provided. The objects are transported in a number of channels past respective optical heads comprising an electro-optics system, the transport mechanism being arranged to provide signals representative of relative object location. The electro-optics system is comprised operatively of separate color recognition and shape inspection subsystems. For the former, a plurality of optical channels are arranged in each optical head operatively in P groups of R optical channels each. The R optical channels of each group view different object segments to provide a spatially integrated output for minimizing noise and particularly the effects of printing on the objects.

Abstract: Inspection is effected by clamping cans between a holder and a photosensitive device which holders and devices are disposed in opposed relationship in a plurality of sets, illuminating exterior of the cans to project light through any opening in the can to the photosensitive device, sensing such light and sending electrical signals to an electronic memory to sort good cans from leakers; the photosensitive device includes an array of directional photodarlingtons one group of which detects openings in can flanges and another group detects openings in can bodies.